A stable stance in any situation with the right caravan supports

A correctly supported caravan is an essential part of any successful camping trip. This is the only way to make sure your caravan doesn’t wobble at every tiny movement and stays as level as possible.

Here, we explain the differences between all the different AL-KO support systems and answer the frequently asked question of whether supports can also be used for leveling or propping up your vehicle – for example during the winter break.

Caravan supports: Key facts in brief

Even simple manual corner steadies provide a secure and stable parking position for your vehicle. Electric and hydraulic supports make it even more comfortable.
Hydraulic steady legs automatically level your caravan into a horizontal position at the touch of a button.
Crank supports are perfectly fine for taking the vehicle’s load during winter storage.

Hydraulic caravan supports

The Rolls-Royce of support systems

When you’re traveling in a caravan and you finally find a nice place to spend the night, there’s just one thing left to do: set up your caravan and relax. But sloping surfaces often prevail, and hardly any pitch is even enough to align the caravan perfectly at the first try. So, precious vacation time is almost always wasted trying to set it up properly with spirit levels and wheel chocks.

However, there is a solution: hydraulic steady legs make the stress of setting up and levelling your caravan outdated. That’s because, unlike mechanical and electromechanical systems, hydraulic steady legs move your caravan into a horizontal position fully automatically at the touch of a button. Your caravan will be perfectly level across both its longitudinal and transverse axes in just a few minutes, and your vacation can begin.

LevelC hydraulic steady legs from E&P Hydraulics

The LevelC hydraulic levelling support system from E&P Hydraulics brings a caravan into a horizontal position fully automatically in just a few minutes.

A total of six hydraulic supports make easy work of it. In the first step, two main supports attached to the right and left of the axle extend to level the trailer along its width, then in the second step the longitudinal axis is aligned. Instead of mechanical corner supports, the LevelC system uses hydraulic Big Foot corner supports to bring the trailer into a perfectly horizontal final position. An electronic spirit level built into the control unit helps here.

The system is controlled either by a permanently installed control panel or a small touchpad set in a permanently installed charging station within the caravan, which can be taken out at any time. In this case, the tablet functions as a wireless remote control, which can also be used to control the entire system from the outside.

It’s probably impossible to set up a caravan any quicker or more automatically. The caravan alignment, which is completed first in the transverse axis and then in the longitudinal axis, each time with two supports moving in parallel, also protects the chassis from damaging torsional forces.

LevelC is available as a complete system with six hydraulic supports, but can also be ordered as a compact system with two hydraulic axle supports and four mechanical corner supports. For added value, the LevelC is compatible with almost every type of caravan and so can be disassembled at any time and re-installed in the next caravan.

Suitable for: LevelC is compatible with almost every type of caravan with a maximum authorized mass up to 3.5 t and can be disassembled at any time and re-installed in the next caravan.
Price: €3,500 plus installation (NB: LevelC may only be retrofitted in certified specialist workshops or in an AL-KO customer center).
Weight: The additional weight compared to the standard equipment is approx. 20 kg (the existing corner supports are replaced).

Electrically operated supports

For an extra convenience boost when parking

f you are tired of having to squat down and crank away, support systems with electric motors are a convenient alternative. Electric supports are the right choice for anyone who wants to protect their back and park their caravan in as relaxed a way as possible. Touring campers who regularly move pitch will be particularly delighted by the added convenience.

Tip: Electric supports offer another advantage in small spaces. The caravan can be parked close to hedges or in other restricted spaces as you no longer need room to manually crank it down.

UP4 electromechanical support system from AL-KO

The UP4 electromechanical support system from AL-KO is easier and quicker than setting up your caravan with a hand crank. Using a remote control, all four supports can first be extended electrically and then controlled individually to adjust them to the correct level. This saves time when setting up the caravan and helps to park the caravan in a stable position effortlessly at the touch of a button.

UP4 is compatible with caravans up to 2.5 tons and is protected against corrosion thanks to its hot-dip galvanized metal parts, so you can be assured that your supports will offer a long service life. The premium version comes with AL-KO Big Foot support feet fitted as standard as well, to provide essential stability on soft ground.

Another advantage: the UP4 can be combined perfectly with the AL-KO Ranger manoeuvring aid. Together they form a real dream team. Once the AL-KO Ranger has manoeuvred your caravan safely into its intended pitch, even on steep, narrow terrain, the UP4 gets to work straight away. Both are very user-friendly and work via a single remote control.

Thieves don’t stand a chance with the UP4 support system. A built-in anti-theft device ensures that the supports can only be moved manually using a special key. Unauthorized access is impossible.

Suitable for: The UP4 supports fit almost all caravan chassis and can also be retrofitted.
Price: €1,400 plus installation
Weight: The UP4 adds only 17.5 kg more than the standard equipment, as the four existing corner supports are replaced in the installation.

Mechanical supports

The classic caravan support

Suitable for all campers who prefer to support their vehicle by manual cranking, mechanical supports offer secure stability on any terrain. They are easy to install and are available in different versions for every chassis. Nevertheless, if your caravan is parked on soft ground such as sand, mud or snow, even the best support can sink in easily. Here it is advisable to provide a stable base (e.g. wooden boards, stone slabs or AL-KO Big Foot support legs).

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Mechanical supports are robust and uncomplicated. However, Matthias Ländle, Product Manager for mechanical and hydraulic support systems at AL-KO, warns against one particular common practice: “Many campers are using a cordless screwdriver to crank their supports up and down. This certainly seems more convenient than operating the supports by hand. However, we do not recommend this. There is a risk of jacking up the caravan, especially when using powerful tools. This can damage not only the body, but also the thread and the screw mount. If you want to use a cordless screwdriver, then please only use it with the utmost care and make sure it’s not at full power.”

AL-KO corner steadies

The corner steadies from AL-KO are available in two versions: The Stabilform supports can take a maximum authorized mass of up to 1,000 kilos, while the Premium supports can assume up to 2,500 kilos.

The AL-KO Big Foot feet are helpful for particular ground conditions such as soft or uneven surfaces. This support accessory is extra wide at 20 x 18 cm and so provides a larger contact surface. Mounted directly on the supports, the flat feet provide additional safety when parked, virtually eliminating the risk of slipping in poor ground conditions.

They are also a much more elegant solution than placing boards underneath. When the supports are folded in, the Big Foot is stored directly in the underbody of the caravan.

Retrofitting mechanical AL-KO supports with Big Foot support legs is easy. They can be fitted to any AL-KO Stabilform or Premium support produced from 2001 onwards. Older supports can also be retrofitted with the AL-KO Big Foot. To do this, simply drill mounting holes according to the instructions before attaching.

Suitable for: all Stabilform supports
Price: € 129

Why mechanical and electric caravan supports are no substitute for a jack

Supports are called supports for a good reason. Contrary to what many campers think, they are not suitable for leveling the caravan, but merely provide stability. If supports are used to jack a caravan up from its parked position, for example to level the vehicle or change a tire, this exerts considerable forces on the chassis at certain points. This can cause the chassis to warp and damage the body.

The only exception: the LevelC hydraulic caravan support from E&P can be used to jack up caravans. Unlike other support systems, the pistons of the LevelC’s hydraulic main supports are attached to the axle. This means that the main load is transferred to the frame via the large supports close to the axle so there is no risk of twisting.

Wheel change

Wheels should only be changed using the AL-KO jack, which has been specially designed for AL-KO chassis and is positioned on the chassis so as to avoid the risk of damage. The AL-KO jack is available as a mechanical model for caravans up to 2,000 kilos and as a hydraulic model for caravans up to 3,000 kilos.

Propping up over winter – sensible or senseless?

Propping up over winter is a topic that keeps cropping up in camper forums. But is it really necessary?

Expert Oliver Drinkwater offers a clear recommendation: "Chassis today are in fact so solidly built that they can withstand long parked times. Nevertheless, tires or the spring set in the axle will be happier if the vehicle is relieved during this time. The load can be relieved by placing safety stands on the frame near the axle. This is the most stable point of the entire chassis. The caravan can also be propped up by the supports. However, using the crank supports to take the load is perfectly adequate for winter storage.”

To avoid damaging the chassis, however, the caravan should really only be relieved and not completely lifted out of the suspension mechanism. This means raising the axle only slightly. You can see this on the wheels. The axle is properly unloaded if the wheels are still lightly touching the ground, not floating in the air. The ‘dent’ that you can normally see on the tires due to the caravan’s weight is then no longer visible.